Prosecutors: All paths lead to James Lanier in murder of Portage businessman Bob Atkinson

Mark Bugnaski | Kalamazoo GazetteOpening statements and witness testimony began today in the trial of James Leonard Lanier, 36, upper right, who is charged with open murder and felony use of a firearm, is accused of killing Bob Atkinson, whose body was found in the office of his business, Precision Windows, 9651 Portage Road, on Jan. 15. KALAMAZOO — A jury of eight women, four men and two alternates began hearing testimony Wednesday morning in the trial of a Kalamazoo man accused of killing a Portage businessman earlier this year.

James Leonard Lanier, 36, is charged with open murder and felony use of a firearm in connection with the Jan. 15 slaying of Bob Atkinson, who was found dead at his business Precision Windows, 9651 Portage Road.

Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Fenton told jurors during his opening statement that evidence he plans to present will show Lanier, a subcontractor who installed windows for Atkinson, was near Precision Windows at the time Atkinson was killed and that Atkinson had plans to contact police about a customer’s check that had been altered and cashed by Lanier.

Fenton said evidence also will show that the gun that killed Atkinson — a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun — came from the Outriders Motorcycle Club, of which Lanier was a member.

Gazette File PhotoBob Atkinson, pictured with his wife.“All paths lead directly to the defendant and no one else,” Fenton said.

Before breaking for lunch Wednesday, jurors heard testimony from Norman Page and Chad Learned, the two men who found Atkinson dead in his business. Atkinson had been shot once in the back of the head and Portage police investigators said his slaying was an execution-style killing.

Page, a delivery truck driver for a window company in Farmington Hills, said he last talked to Atkinson just after 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 15 prior to his arrival to Precision Windows with a delivery. When he arrived at the business, Page testified that he could not find Atkinson and began searching for him with Learned who arrived at the business after Page.

Page said Learned later found Atkinson on the floor of an office at the business.

“He wasn’t moving,” Page said.

Learned, who said he worked for Atkinson for five years, said he had gone to Precision Windows on Jan. 15 to get money that Atkinson owed him and to look at windows for a family member. Learned said he called police after finding Atkinson.

“I saw blood coming out of his mouth and there was blood on the carpet,” Learned said.

Testimony is expected to take five days.

Gazette File PhotoLeft:
The family of Bob Atkinson mourns the death of the 53 year old Portage
business owner. Right: James Leonard Lanier is standing trial for
homicide.